Hygiene monitoring and management system and method

ABSTRACT

A hygiene monitoring and management system including a monitoring module and a display. The management module with an input and that receives data via the input. The received data includes one or more locations of a device in a facility, and the management module further includes one or both of software and hardware configured to generate data representative of cleaning behavior associated with the device based on the received data. The cleaning behavior includes timing and movement of the device in the facility, and a cleanliness level of at least one area in the facility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/028,699, filed Sep. 22, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/847,038, filed Dec. 19, 2017, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/194,261, filed Jun.27, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/338,022, filed Jul. 22, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/254,093, filed Aug. 31, 2011, which is anational phase application filing of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US2010/025936, filed Mar. 2, 2010, which claims the benefit ofand priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/156,569, filed onMar. 2, 2009, the entire contents of each of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to systems and methods of monitoring andmanaging hygiene using a real-time locating system (RTLS).

SUMMARY

By using RTLS, individuals and companies can monitor and manage thehygiene of their surroundings. In some embodiments of the invention,RTLS is used to monitor and manage cleanliness of rooms and surfaces andthe location of cleaning supplies and cleaning personnel. Embodiments ofthe invention provide improved efficiency and quality of hygieneservices. For instance, embodiments can enable prioritization ofcleaning, improve efficient use of cleaning supplies and cleaningpersonnel, track short and long term cleaning operations, and provideinsight into ineffective cleaning.

Embodiments of the invention include a hygiene monitoring and managementsystem. The system includes a wireless tag and a monitoring module. Thewireless tag is operable to transmit distance signals, wherein eachdistance signal indicates a tag distance between the wireless tag and anassociated access point and wherein the tag distance is based on astrength of a wireless signal from the associated access point receivedby the tag. The monitoring module is operable to track movement of thewireless tag by repeatedly determining the location of the wireless tagbased on the tag distances. The monitoring module is also operable todetermine a cleanliness level of an area based on tracking movement ofthe wireless tag.

Some embodiments of the invention include a display unit, wherein themonitoring module is operable to graphically depict the determinedcleanliness level of the area and the location of the wireless tag onthe display unit. In some embodiments, the determination is based on atleast one of a clean signal and a dirty signal received from a fixedcall actuator in the area or coupled to a wall bounding the area. Someembodiments of the invention further include a cleaning implementincluding a wireless tag, wherein the monitoring module is operable toindicate the cleanliness level of the area based on the tracked movementof the cleaning implement.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a method of hygienemonitoring and management. The method includes receiving, by a wirelesstag, wireless signals from a plurality of access points and receiving,by each access point, an associated tag distance from the wireless tag.Each associated tag distance represents a strength of each associatedaccess point's wireless signal at the wireless tag. The method furtherincludes repeatedly determining a location of the wireless tag based onthe tag distances to track movement of the wireless tag. The method alsoincludes determining a cleanliness level of an area based on trackingthe movement of the wireless tag.

In some embodiments, the method further includes graphically displayinga floor plan with a plurality of areas including the area, a cleanlinesslevel of each of the plurality of areas, and at least one of a currentlocation of the wireless tag on the floor plan and a path indicating thetracked movement of the wireless tag on the floor plan.

In some embodiments, the wireless tag is secured to a spray device and asecond wireless tag is secured to a wiping device. The monitoring moduledetermines a surface cleanliness level of a surface within the areabased on: 1) predicting a spray pattern of the spray device on thesurface based on tracking the movement of the spray device and detectinga dispensement by the spray device, and 2) estimating an effective wipearea on the surface based on the spray pattern and tracking movement ofthe wiping device.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 show fixed points used to determine a mobile device location.

FIG. 4 shows exemplary components of a RTLS hygiene management andmonitoring system.

FIG. 5 shows a graphical display of RTLS room cleanliness monitoring.

FIG. 6 shows a method of room cleanliness monitoring using RTLS.

FIG. 7 shows a graphical display of RTLS surface area monitoring.

FIG. 8 shows a method of surface area monitoring using RTLS.

FIG. 9 shows a graphical display of RTLS used in 3-D surface cleaningmonitoring.

FIGS. 10a-d show a simplified graphical display of RTLS used in 3-Dsurface cleaning monitoring.

FIG. 11 shows a method of 3-D surface cleaning monitoring using RTLS.

FIG. 12 shows a graphical display of an RTLS monitoring system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

Embodiments of the invention determine the position of a tagged itemrelative to access points that are generally fixed. This determinationis sometimes described as triangulation or trilateration, and includesthe ability to approximately measure the distance between an accesspoint and a wireless device using a Relative Signal Strength Indicator(RSSI). Generally, the stronger a signal, the higher the RSSI level, andthe nearer a wireless device is to an access point measuring the RSSI.In place of or in combination with a RSSI measurement, other measurementtechniques can be used, such as a Received Channel Power Indicator(RCPI). For convenience and simplification, examples involving RSSI willbe used throughout the disclosure.

FIGS. 1-3 depict how fixed access points can be used to determine theposition of a mobile wireless device. FIG. 1 includes a fixed accesspoint 15 and a mobile wireless device 20. The fixed wireless accesspoint 15 has the ability to measure the approximate distance x betweenthe two points by measuring the RSSI. If the location of the fixedaccess point 15 is known, then the location of the mobile wirelessdevice 20 is known to be at a radius of x from the fixed access point.With only one measurement x from the fixed access point 15, one cannotdetermine the direction of the mobile wireless device 20 relative to thefixed access point 15. The location of mobile wireless device 20 can beimagined as at some point on the surface of a sphere of radius xsurrounding the fixed wireless access point 15.

In FIG. 2, a second fixed wireless access point 25 is introduced to thesystem including fixed wireless access point 15 and mobile wirelessdevice 20. The fixed wireless access point 25 can measure the RSSI ofthe mobile wireless device 20 to determine that the mobile wirelessdevice 20 is an approximate distance y from the fixed access point 25.If the location of the fixed access point 25 is known, then the locationof the mobile wireless device 20 is known to be at a radius of y fromthe fixed access point 25. In addition, the location of the mobilewireless device 20 is still known to be at a radius of x. Therefore, thepossible locations can be narrowed down to the intersection points of afirst sphere (having its center at fixed wireless access point 15 andradius x) and a second sphere (having its center at fixed wirelessaccess point 25 and radius y). The intersection points of these twospheres will either form a single point or form a circle on the y-zplane (the fixed wireless access points are on the x-y plane).

In FIG. 3, a third fixed wireless access point 30 is introduced to thesystem including mobile wireless device 20 and fixed wireless accesspoints 15 and 25. The fixed wireless access point 30 can measure theRSSI of the mobile wireless device 20 to determine that the location ofthe mobile wireless device 20 is at a radius of z from the fixed accesspoint 30. This location information can be combined with the knowledgethat the mobile wireless device 20 is also a radius x from fixedwireless access point 15 and y from fixed wireless device 14 (which asdescribed above, requires the mobile wireless device 20 to be at theintersection of two spheres). The intersection of the third sphere(having fixed wireless access point 30 as its center and radius z) withthe first and second spheres described above gives the possiblelocations of the mobile wireless device 20. The possible locations willbe either at a single point or at two intersection points on the circleon the y-z plane formed by the intersection of the three spheres.

Determining a fourth distance between a fourth fixed wireless accesspoint (not shown) and a mobile wireless device 20 or using otherinformation (e.g., knowing that one of the potential location pointsresides outside of an acceptable area for the mobile wireless device 20)can be used to select the proper intersection point of the three spheresas the true location of the mobile wireless device. With additionalknown data about a particular mobile wireless device, other fixedwireless access points can be unnecessary to determine location. Forinstance, if it is known that a floor cleaner will be 1) in a particularroom and 2) on the floor during operation, these two pieces ofinformation can be used with two RSSI measurements from fixed wirelessaccess points to pinpoint the mobile wireless device's location.

The triangulation techniques described above can be used to form a RTLShygiene management and monitoring system on a WLAN network using Wi-Fibased Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) mobile wireless devices(i.e., tags). The hygiene management and monitoring system can monitorand manage multiple tags, which can be placed on objects or personnel.Wi-Fi based RTLS technology can accurately locate devices within 1 meterand less. The accuracy can be improved by increasing the number ofaccess points installed and by improving signal strength measuringtechnology. Alternative RTLS wireless technologies can includeUltra-Wide Band (UWB), Ultrasound technology, and global positioningsatellites (GPS) for locating objects; any wireless technology suitablefor RTLS is also within the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 4 depicts components of one exemplary embodiment of a hygienemanagement and monitoring system 400. Wireless devices 402 are themobile items to be located or tracked using RTLS. The wireless devices402 receive a signal from the access points 404 in wireless range anddetermine the strength of the signal. In turn, the wireless devices 402output a distance signal. In some embodiments, the wireless devices 402calculate the distance from the access point associated with a receivedsignal and output a distance signal as an actual distance value (e.g., 5meters). In other embodiments, the wireless devices 402 output adistance signal as a strength value that is used to calculate a distancevalue. For instance, a strength signal of 60 out of a possible 100 mayrepresent 5 meters. By these techniques, the access points 404 can beused to measure the RSSI of the wireless devices 402 within range. TheI/O module 406 of the management and monitoring module 401 receives themeasured RSSI. The measured RSSI data is sent to the analyzinghardware/software 410 to calculate the estimated distance from thewireless device 402 or, if the access points 404 performed the distancecalculations, the I/O module 406 receives and forwards the estimateddistance from the wireless device 402.

The analyzing hardware/software 410 can include hardware components,software components, or a combination thereof, and receives the datainput through the I/O module 406. The locating module 412 receivesmultiple RSSI or distance measurements for a given wireless device 402and uses the procedures described in FIGS. 1-3 to determine a locationof the wireless device. Alternatively, the measurements can be matchedto a database of stored values related to the various possible locationsin an area to be monitored. Thereafter, the overlaying module 414 canplot or assign a value representing the location of the wireless device402 on a previously stored map of the area where the hygiene managingand monitoring is occurring. The plotted locations or location values ofthe wireless devices 402 and the previously stored map can then beoutput through the I/O module and sent to a display module 408 as agraphical display for a user of the hygiene management and monitoringsystem. Alternatively, the data can be sent to a computer or storagedevice either directly or indirectly through a local or wide areanetwork, the Internet, or the like.

Although multiple methods can be used to set up RTLS at variouslocations, one exemplary arrangement of a RTLS in an existing buildingis depicted in FIG. 5. One exemplary arrangement method for this RTLScan be generally broken down into three categories: installation,calibration, and operation.

Two steps are performed during installation: 1) providing an adequatewireless network and 2) installing the RTLS engine. To provide anadequate wireless network, a survey of the existing networkinfrastructure can be performed. From the survey, a determination can bemade regarding whether the existing wireless network can be used orupdated, or if a new wireless network must be installed. Some factorsused to determine the ability of the existing network include the numberof wireless access points, the wireless network coverage of a location,and the speed at which the network can retrieve information. The morewireless access points in the network and the greater the speed of thenetwork, the more accurately, reliably, and quickly a wireless device'slocation can be identified.

In the second step, the RTLS engine, which may be software based, isinstalled to be run by the backbone system residing on the network. Forinstance, the RTLS engine can be installed as a service on an existingcomputer server as part of the network infrastructure. The RTLS enginecan be programmed to recognize specific mobile wireless devices (alsoknown as tags), either by each tag's identification code or by otherdetectable features of the tag. The performance requirement of thecomputer server to run the RTLS engine is proportional to the number ofwireless devices and accuracy requirements. If the existing computerserver provides inadequate performance, a standalone RTLS system can beinstalled on the network. In addition, the backbone system can beextended to be run offsite if the wireless technology, network speed,and security permit. The backbone system can reside anywhere on a PAN,LAN, WLAN, WAN, or MAN to suit the application need.

In other embodiments, the location determining functions of the RTLSengine can be included in the wireless device itself. The wirelessdevice can then calculate its own positional coordinates relative to themeasured signal strength of fixed devices using, for example, one of thelocation determining methods described herein. The coordinates can thenbe sent to a main RTLS engine for further processing. The main RTLSengine can perform the same functions as other RTLS engines, eitherexcluding or duplicating those functions outsourced to the wirelessdevices.

To calibrate the system, a predicted signal strength map of the locationis produced. This map can be used for determining tag location and isoverlaid on a floor plan of the location where RTLS is to beimplemented. The predicted signal strength map can be created usingestimated signal strength calculations based on wireless access pointlocations and characteristics. For greater accuracy, CAD designsincluding building materials are used to better predict signal strengthat different points in the building. To complete the calibration, aphysical survey can be performed to measure the actual signal strengthsof a tag at different locations and compare and update the predictedsignal strength map for better accuracy. The predicted signal strengthmap can be stored as a database. The database can contain RSSI valuesand their associated fixed access points as index values that referencethe stored predicted location values.

Finally, operation of the RTLS includes the wireless access pointsreceiving tag broadcasts and using location algorithms to determine thetag's location. The wireless access points can measure the signalstrength and determine the source of the received tag broadcasts andrelay the information to the RTLS engine. In some instances, the RTLSengine sends a request signal to the wireless access points, at whichpoint, the wireless access points will provide the signal strength andtag identifying information to the RTLS engine. The RTLS engine can thenuse the measured signal strengths and tag identifying information asindexes to reference a location on the floor plan using the predictedsignal strength map database.

Alternatively, the measured signal strengths and tag identifyinginformation can be used to determine the tag location as described withreference to FIGS. 1-3. In another embodiment, the RTLS engine maydetermine tag locations through a logged history of last known taglocations. This approach reduces the need to broadcast across the entirewireless network, thus reducing the load on the network each time a tagis to be located. In yet another embodiment, the RTLS engine may receivetag identifying information and tag location coordinates directly fromthe wireless devices that are adapted to perform their own locationdetermining functions. In some embodiments, the RTLS engine can usedetermined tag locations over time to plot the tag's movement on thefloor plan. The more frequent the received tag broadcasts, the moreaccurately the RTLS engine can plot the tag's movement.

Tags can operate in two modes to communicate with the RTLS engine: 1) ina passive mode, where a tag remains in a sleeping state until receipt ofa wake-up signal, upon which the device broadcasts, and 2) in an activemode, where a tag automatically broadcasts at selected time intervalswithout requiring receipt of a wake-up signal. For example, if a tag isto be continuously tracked and monitored, an active mode may be chosen.Conversely, if a tag is only to be located intermittently, a passivemode may be chosen. A combination of active and passive modes may alsobe used by a tag.

Three exemplary implementations of a RTLS to be used for a hygienemonitoring and management system include 1) a room cleanlinessmonitoring system, 2) a surface area monitoring system, and 3) athree-dimensional surface management and monitoring system.

The first implementation is a room cleanliness monitoring system using aRTLS and will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 showsa graphical layout 500 of a floor of a building where room cleanlinesswill be monitored. Fixed wireless access points 502 are positionedaround a building as described above and shown in FIG. 5. Mobile taggedpersonnel, such as a cleaning worker 514, carry or have attached activewireless tags (not shown). The active tags continuously or periodicallybroadcast signals that the fixed wireless access points 502 receive. Aroom cleanliness monitoring system determines and records the locationof these active tags by using signal strengths of the active tags asdescribed above. The room cleanliness monitoring system can use therecorded active tag locations to plot paths 516 over the graphicallayout 500.

The room cleanliness monitoring system can also display the roomcleanliness by way of a color-coded system. For instance, FIG. 5 uses acolor-coded key such that the darker the room, the more heavily used anddirtier the room. Room 512 is an example of a more heavily used room,room 510 is clean, and room 508 has an intermediate level of use.Additionally, each room and hallway can include a call/cleaned button506 that is in a fixed position and includes a tag. The button 506 canbe a passive device that is activated by personnel to indicate that aroom needs to be cleaned or that it has been cleaned. In response, theroom cleanliness monitoring system can update the room color displayed.In some embodiments, multiple buttons can be provided.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is mobile tagged cleaning station 504, which cantransmit information to fixed wireless access points 502 relating to,for example, cleaning materials, equipment, chemicals, and other itemsassociated with a cleaning station. The mobile tagged cleaning station504 can also have a response button or device (not shown) that can betriggered by an operator to indicate that a room has been cleaned. Thefixed wireless access points 502 can also receive broadcasts from themobile tagged cleaning station 504 and, in turn, the room cleanlinessmonitoring system can determine and record the location of the cleaningstation 504 by using the fixed wireless access points. The roomcleanliness monitoring system can use the determined cleaning station504 locations to plot path 518 over the graphical layout 500.

One exemplary method of operating the room cleanliness monitoring systemof FIG. 5 will next be described with reference to FIG. 6. In a firststep 600, the room cleanliness monitoring system will determine if aroom needs to be cleaned based on the room cleanliness data displayed ascolor-coded rooms in FIG. 5. The system can prioritize based on the typeof room, the level of dirtiness, and the room's location relative tocleaning personnel, supplies, and mobile cleaning stations. If a room isat a level such that it needs to be cleaned, the room cleanlinessmonitoring system will locate the best-suited mobile cleaning station504 in step 602. The determination of the best-suited mobile cleaningstation 504 can consider a mobile cleaning station's proximity to theroom to be cleaned, its current availability, its available cleaningsupplies, and its available cleaning equipment. For instance, thenearest mobile cleaning station 504 that is not currently cleaninganother room, and contains the necessary cleaning supplies and equipmentfor the job, would be selected.

Upon determining the best-suited mobile cleaning station 504, the roomcleanliness monitoring system will send a call signal to the mobilecleaning station 504 in step 604. Thereafter, in step 605 the roomcleanliness monitoring system checks if a room cleaned signal has beenreceived either by a dispatched mobile cleaning station 504 or acall/cleaned button 506. Step 605 is also performed if it is determinedthat no room needs to be cleaned in step 600. In step 606, after a roomcleaned signal has been received, the room cleanliness monitoring systemupdates the graphical layout 500 to show that the room is clean. Theroom cleanliness monitoring system can then restart the process in step600.

Multiple mobile cleaning stations, rooms, personnel, and hallways can betracked to allow for multiple dispatches and efficient scheduling ofcleaning. Moreover, the room usage and cleanliness and tag location andtracking can be periodically reviewed and analyzed by employees,employers, software and/or auditors to identify and eliminateinefficiencies in hygiene management.

A second implementation is a surface area monitoring system using a RTLSand will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 shows agraphical layout 700 of a floor 702 of a room 703 to be cleaned. Severallevel 1 access points 704 and level 2 access points 706 are distributedwithin the outside boundaries of a room (shown by the dotted line), butat different levels.

In one embodiment, an active RFID device (not shown) is placed on afloor cleaning device 710. The floor cleaning device 710 can holddifferent chemicals, and the chemicals may be held at different dilutionlevels. The floor cleaning device 710 may also be configured to dispensedifferent chemicals and alter the dilution levels during a cleaningprocess. Using RTLS as described above, the location of the floorcleaning device 710 may be tracked and plotted on the graphical layout700 as a path 712. The floor cleaning device 710 may begin to be trackedautomatically upon start up or by manual enabling.

As the floor cleaning device 710 moves from area to area, the chemicaland dosing dilution can be adjusted wirelessly by the intelligentcleaning system to suit the mapped zones. For instance, the type ofchemicals and dilution levels can be adjusted according to what types ofrooms are being cleaned, how often the rooms are cleaned, how often therooms are used, and/or how dirty the floors are determined to be. If azone is cleaned infrequently or is heavily used, a stronger chemical orhigher concentration can be used. The stronger chemical or higherconcentration can clean the room better initially and keep the roomcleaner for longer periods of time. If a zone is cleaned more often andis infrequently used, a lower concentration may be more desirable toreduce the amount of chemicals used. Reducing the amount of chemicals tocreate a more efficient floor cleaning device 710 has various benefits,including reduction of waste, reduction of cost, and reduction of timespent refilling the floor cleaning device 710 with new chemicals.

For example, in FIG. 7, the left half of the floor is determined to bedirtier based on its heavier use as tracked with a room cleanlinessmonitoring system described in FIGS. 5 and 6. In turn, chemical 1, astrong or highly concentrated chemical, is used on the left half of thefloor 708, but chemical 2, a weaker or less concentrated chemical, isused on the right half of the floor 709.

Using the RTLS surface area monitoring system to plot the timing andmovement of the floor cleaning device 710 when in use can provideadditional benefits and uses. For instance, the paths plotted can bereviewed for reporting purposes or for determining whether the room mustbe cleaned again. The paths plotted can be stored to build anintelligent picture using gradients of colors to represent the cleaningbehavior over time. This data can be used to further influence moreefficient and better practices by identifying surfaces that are missedregularly and those that are over-cleaned.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart for an exemplary method of operating thesurface area monitoring system of FIG. 7. In step 800, a worker or thesurface area monitoring system determines whether a surface area needsto be cleaned. If a surface area (such as floor 709) is determined to bein need of cleaning, a worker will clean the floor using a floorcleaning device 710 in step 802. In step 804, the surface areamonitoring system will monitor the cleaning of the floor surface area bytracking the location of the floor cleaning device 710 and thedisbursement of chemicals. Thereafter, in step 806, the surface areamonitoring system will determine if the floor surface area waseffectively cleaned. If the floor surface area was not effectivelycleaned, the worker can receive an indication from the surface areamonitoring system via, for example, a user output device on the floorcleaning device 710, a hard copy printout, an electronic display screen,an audible output, or a text message to a handheld device that the floorsurface area is in need of additional cleaning in step 810. The workerwill continue to clean the floor surface area and receive feedbackiteratively until the surface area is determined to be clean in steps806 and 810.

In step 808, the surface area monitoring system may record data from thecleaning for long-term surface area cleaning analysis. The analysis canprovide detailed feedback to the worker, supervisors, or auditors aboutcleaning habits. The analysis can allow suggestions for improvements toincrease the effectiveness of cleaning, improve hygiene of the areamonitored, and predict effectiveness of a particular cleaning regime.The method of FIG. 8 can be repeated to implement cleaning acrossmultiple rooms, such as depicted in FIG. 12.

A third implementation is a three-dimensional surface cleaningmanagement and monitoring system using a RTLS (3D RTLS system) and willbe described with reference to FIGS. 9-12. FIG. 9 shows a graphicallayout 850 of a three-dimensional kitchen with multiple surfaces to bemonitored. The 3D RTLS system uses the three-dimensional floor plan,which allows the system to manage and monitor the cleanliness ofsurfaces at different heights, sizes, and angles. Particular surfacescan be cleaned more efficiently with properly selected cleaning agents.Cleaning agents include all purpose cleaner/sanitizer, sanitizer,oven/grill cleaner, heavy duty degreaser, all purpose cleaner, stainlesssteel polish, among other types. For instance, surfaces inside an oven852 are better cleaned using an oven or grill cleaning or heavy dutydegreaser as opposed to an all purpose cleaner/sanitizer, which is moreappropriate for use on shelves within cabinet 854. As with otherembodiments of the RTLS system, the 3D RTLS system may visuallyillustrate the cleanliness of a surface using colors or shading on thegraphical layout 850. In addition to illustrating the cleanliness of asurface, the 3D RTLS system is operable to visually illustrate apreferred cleaning agent for use with a particular surface. Moreover,the 3D RTLS system recommends the appropriate safety wear, such asgoggles, gloves, masks, and the like, to be worn by an individualapplying the preferred cleaning agent.

In one embodiment, a mobile cleaning cart includes a display screen. Thedisplay screen depicts the graphical layout 850. Each of the surfaces tobe monitored is indicated as clean using, for instance, white coloring.If a surface is dirty, it has a non-white color that indicates both thatthe surface is dirty and the particular cleaning agent to be used. Forinstance, if the floor is depicted as blue, the floor is dirty and anall-purpose cleaner should be used. If a table top is pink, the tabletop is dirty and a stainless steel polish should be used. Othercleanliness and cleaning agent indicating techniques are contemplatedfor use within the 3D RTLS system.

FIGS. 10a-10d depict a simplified 3D graphical layout 900 of a kitchenfor purposes of explanation. The graphical layout 900 includes a table902 with a table top surface 904, which is a surface to be monitored.The 3D RTLS system also includes an active RFID enabled spray device 908and active RFID enabled wipe device 910. The 3D RTLS system alsoincludes fixed wireless access points 911 used to monitor the spraydevice 908 and wipe device 910. The spray device 908 and wipe device 910are tracked automatically upon start-up or by manual enabling.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 10a -10 d, the spray device 908includes two RFID tags such that the 3D RTLS system is operable todetermine the angle and direction of the spray device. Additionalassumptions can be used to assist determining the angle and direction ofa nozzle 912 of the spray device 908. For instance, the 3D RTLS systemcan assume that whenever the trigger is depressed, the spray device 908is upright (i.e., the nozzle 912 is substantially above the base of thespray device). In other embodiments, additional RFID tags,accelerometers, and/or gravity-based directional sensors are used toassist in determining the angle and direction of the spray device 908.

Turning to FIGS. 10b and 10c , the spray device 908 also wirelesslyindicates to the management and monitoring system that the spray trigger909 has been depressed (i.e., that a dispensement has occurred) and thelevel of depression. The 3D RTLS system uses the location of the nozzle912 (determined using RTLS), along with the trigger depression signalsfrom the spray device 908 to predict the spray pattern 914 on a surface.The predicted spray pattern 914 is predicted using the distance betweenthe spray device 908 and a receiving surface such as table top surface904, the level of depression of the spray trigger 909, and the locationof nozzle 912. Generally, the nearer the spray device 908 is to thetable top surface, the smaller the spray coverage area.

The 3D RTLS system then monitors the wipe device 910 to record anddisplay the area of the table top surface that is wiped. The predictedspray pattern 914 and the area determined to be wiped by the wipe device910 are used to estimate an effective wipe area 916 and areas where nochemical were applied 918. Known properties of the cleaning chemical,the table top surface 904, and the wipe device 910 can also be used toincrease the accuracy of the estimated effective wipe area 916. Forinstance, some chemicals may have a larger potential coverage area thanother chemicals. In addition, certain surfaces and wiping devices may bemore conducive to larger effective wipe areas of chemicals.

FIG. 10b depicts a smaller spray pattern 914 than FIG. 10c , where thelocation of nozzle 912 is farther from the table top surface 904. Thus,since a majority of the top surface 904 remains uncleaned, the usershould reapply the cleaning agent via the spray device 908 and wipe thearea using wipe device 910. However, in FIG. 10c , the entire tableexcept for a negligible area has been cleaned, and the 3D RTLS systemwill update the cleanliness indication by illustrating the table topsurface as white.

The spray device 908 can also provide feedback via user output devices(not shown), such as indicator lights, a graphical display, or the like.The user output devices are affixed to the spray device 908, separatewireless devices, and/or separate wired devices. The 3D RTLS systememploys the user output devices to inform the user of the cleanliness ofthe table top surface 904 before, during, and after the user has sprayedand wiped the table top surface 904 with a cleaning agent.

The user output devices can also be used to alert the user of surfacesin need of cleaning or of other pertinent information. In someembodiments, the user output devices are operable to indicate the typeof cleaning agent to be used for a particular surface. For example, asthe nozzle 912 is directed at or near a surface (as determined by the 3DRTLS system), a user output device on the spray device 908 indicates thetype of cleaning agent to use and/or a type of wipe device 910. Forinstance, in FIG. 10d , the graphical layout 900 is divided into a firstportion 919 and a second portion 920. The first portion 919 includes anoven/range 922 with range hood 924. The second portion 920 includes thetable 902. When the 3D RTLS system determines that the spray device 908and/or wipe device 910 are within the first portion 919, the systemindicates via user output devices that an oven or grill cleaner or heavyduty degreaser should be used. In contrast, when the 3D RTLS systemdetermines that the spray device 908 and/or wipe device 910 are withinthe second portion 920, the system indicates via user output devicesthat an all purpose cleaner/sanitizer should be used.

In some embodiments, the spray device 908 includes more than one type ofcleaning agent therein and automatically selects the appropriatecleaning agent to dispense based on a proximate surface and thedetermined location of nozzle 912. If an improper or less effectivecleaning agent is determined to have been used on a surface, the 3D RTLSsystem indicates as such using a user output device and indicates thatthe surface remains dirty or remains dirtier than if the proper cleaningagent was employed. In some embodiments, a user output device mayinclude an alerting mechanism (e.g., an alarm or beep) to indicate whenthe spray device 908 has a cleaning agent that is incorrect or will harma proximate surface. For example, a heavy duty degreaser may cause harmto the top surface 904 of the table 902.

Additionally, the 3D RTLS system is operable to notify a user to addattachments or make modifications to the spray device 908 and/or wipedevice 910 based on the location of nozzle 912 and proximate surfaces.For instance, in some embodiments, the nozzle of the spray device 908 isautomatically adjusted to change the spray pattern (e.g., narrower orwider) based on the location of nozzle 912 and proximate surfaces. Forinstance, if the location of nozzle 912 is near a surface, the nozzlemay be adjusted to spray a wide pattern of cleaning agent to cover moresurface area. However, as the nozzle is pulled away from the surface,the nozzle is adjusted to spray a narrower pattern to ensure that aratio of cleaning agent to surface area is maintained above a thresholdlevel.

FIG. 11 shows a flow chart for an exemplary method of operating the 3DRTLS system depicted in FIGS. 9-10 d. In step 1000, a worker or the 3DRTLS system determines whether a surface area needs to be cleaned. If asurface area (such as table top surface 904) is determined to be in needof cleaning, a worker can be alerted by a user output device. In someembodiments, the 3D RTLS system recommends a cleaning agent and/or wipedevice 910 for the surface area. In some embodiments, the RTLS systemautomatically selects a cleaning agent for the spray device 908 thatincludes multiple cleaning agents. In response, a worker will clean thesurfaces with an active RFID spray device 908 and wipe device 910 instep 1002. In step 1004, the 3D RTLS system will monitor the cleaning ofthe surface area by predicting effective spray patterns and estimatingeffective wipe areas as described with respect to FIGS. 10a -10 d.Thereafter, in step 1006, the 3D RTLS system will determine if thesurface area was effectively cleaned. If the surface area was noteffectively cleaned, the worker can receive an indication from the 3DRTLS system (e.g., via a user output device, a hard copy printout, or anelectronic display screen), that the surface area is in need ofadditional cleaning in step 1010. The worker will continue to clean thesurface area and receive feedback iteratively in steps 1006 and 1010until the surface area is determined to be clean.

In step 1008, the 3D RTLS system may record data from the cleaning forlong-term surface area cleaning analysis. The analysis can allowdetailed feedback to the worker, supervisors, or auditors about cleaninghabits. The analysis can allow suggestions for improvements to increasethe effectiveness of cleaning, improve hygiene of the area monitored,and predict effectiveness of a particular cleaning regime. The method ofFIG. 11 and the 3D RTLS system of FIG. 9, as well as other embodimentsherein, may also be used for training and evaluating workers.

Each of the above implementations may be used alone or in conjunctionwith one another. For instance, in a combination system, the hygienemonitoring and management system can monitor room cleanliness based ontraffic/use of the room, floor cleanliness from the surface areamonitoring, and cleanliness of table top surfaces based on the 3D RTLSsystem. For example, if the floor or a table top surface is determinedto be dirty based on traffic or use, the room will be marked dirty onthe room cleanliness managing and monitoring system, and it will not bemarked clean until the proper floor or table top surface cleaning hasoccurred. Other combinations are within the scope of the invention andwould be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of thisdisclosure.

In the 3D RTLS system and method, the spray device 908 has at least twoitems monitored: the location of a dispenser port (e.g., the nozzle 912)and the actuation of a dispensing action (e.g., depressing spray trigger909). The wipe device 910 is monitored to detect the spreading orapplication of a dispensed cleaning agent. Although the 3D RTLS systemand method have been described for use with a particular type of spraydevice 908 with spray trigger 909 and wipe device 910, the applicationand use of 3D RTLS system and method are not limited to particulardispensing and wiping devices. Some embodiments of the inventionincorporate other implements. In some embodiments, the spray device 908includes a bottle with a flip-top cap that dispenses a cleaning agentusing gravity and/or squeezing the bottle; an upright pelican pumpdispenser that dispenses a cleaning agent when the pump is depressed; anautomated dispensing device that receives an electrical signal todispense and, in turn, dispenses a cleaning agent; or another dispensingdevice that dispenses a cleaning agent. In some embodiments, the wipedevice 910 is a mop head, a sponge, a cloth, a mechanical scrubbingdevice, or another object used to spread or apply a dispensed cleaningagent. In some embodiments, the spray device 908 and wipe device 910 arecombined into a single unit, for instance, a mop with an attachedchemical dispenser.

FIG. 12 depicts a graphical layout 1200 of a facility 1202 that includesthe floor cleaning device 710 in the room 703 depicted in FIG. 7. Thefacility 1202 includes four floors 1205, 1210, 1215, and 1220. In theembodiment depicted, most corners of each room include a wireless accesspoint 1225. Using the labeling convention of FIG. 7, the level 1 accesspoints 704 are positioned near the intersection of the second floor 1210and the third floor 1215 and the level 2 access points 706 arepositioned near the intersection of the third floor 1215 and the fourthfloor 1220. Not all of the access points depicted in FIG. 7 are depictedin FIG. 12, and indeed, fewer or more access points are included in thefacility 1202 of FIG. 12 in some embodiments.

Using RTLS as described above, the location and cleaning of the floorcleaning device 710 are tracked and plotted on the graphical layout1200. For instance, the graphical layout 1200 depicts four floors ofrooms, with each room having a cleanliness indication displayed. Therooms on the fourth floor 1220 are all determined to be clean and areindicated as such by not including shading. The rooms on the first floor1205 and second floor 1210 are all determined to be dirty and areindicated as such using shading. Two rooms on the third floor 1215 areindicated as being clean, two rooms are indicated as being dirty, andone room (room 703) is in the process of being cleaned. In someembodiments, partial shading is used to display progress of on-goingcleaning (see, e.g., room 703). In other embodiments, partial shading,color coding, or the like is used to depict levels of cleanliness,similar to graphical layout 500 of FIG. 5.

Although the high level graphical layout 1200 is displayed, a user isable to access a lower-level view. For example, the RTLS system displaysthe graphical layout 700 of FIG. 7 upon a user's selection of room 703.In some embodiments, a 3D graphical layout similar to those of FIGS.9-10 d is shown upon selection of an individual room. Additionally, theRTLS system displays a layout similar to graphical layout 500 of FIG. 5upon a user's selection of a particular floor within the graphicallayout 1200, such as the third floor 1215.

The surfaces to be monitored by the 3D RTLS system are not limited tohorizontal surfaces. Rather, vertical surfaces (e.g., windows), surfaceson an angle (e.g., a range hood), and other surfaces are also monitoredby the 3D RTLS system as described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. Forinstance, each room within the facility 1202 includes at least onewindow (e.g., windows 1230, 1235, and 1240). The windows 1230 and 1235are dirty based on duration since a previous cleaning and/or otherfactors, and the graphical layout 1200 indicates that the windows 1230and 1235 are dirty using shading. Similar to monitoring the table topsurface 904, the 3D RTLS system monitors the windows' cleanliness levelsby monitoring the spray device 908 and wipe device 910.

Various entities can use embodiments of the invention including, forexample, managers of various settings (e.g., hospital management, officebuilding management, etc.), government agencies (law enforcementagencies, environmental agencies, etc.), and consultants. These entitiesmay use embodiments of the invention to both manage and monitorcleanliness and hygiene of an area, and also to train new andexperienced personnel in effective cleaning techniques. Embodiments ofthe invention may be used in various settings, including, but notlimited to, hospitals, schools, hotels, gyms, office buildings, homes,cruise ships, arenas, stadiums, or other areas where hygiene is valued.Embodiments of the invention can also be used to ensure complete oreffective clean-up in scenarios where dangerous materials are present.For instance, government or other regulatory agencies may useembodiments of the invention to ensure effective asbestos removal,chemical spill clean-up, or other hazardous waste clean-up.

Additionally, although the disclosure has described systems using humancleaning personnel, it is within the scope of embodiments of theinvention to use automated/robotic cleaning devices. Embodiments of theinvention can direct one or more automated cleaning devices' cleaningand movement using the RTLS technology described above. For example, thefloor cleaning device 710 can be an automated device that maneuvers andcleans without human interaction. A RTLS hygiene monitoring andmanagement system as described above can be configured to select anddispatch the floor cleaning device 710 to tend to a particular room.Thereafter, the floor cleaning device 710 can be maneuvered using RTLStechnology to clean the floor of that room.

In other embodiments, the wireless monitoring system is used formonitoring cleanliness of areas outside of a facility. For instance, astreet RTLS system and method provides an improved method and system ofcoordinating general street cleaning and emergency snow removal. In thestreet RTLS system, wireless tags using a combination of wirelesstechnologies (e.g., global positioning satellites, WiFi, ultrawide band,etc.) for triangulation are attached to street clearing devicesincluding street cleaners, snow plows, brooms, and shovels. The streetRTLS system includes a layout of the streets to be monitored (e.g., adigital road map) and tracks the street clearing devices. The streetcleanliness levels are monitored using a combination of manual userinput, passage of time, weather predictions, real-time weather input,precipitation sensors spaced out along the streets to be monitored, andother input means. The street RTLS system monitors the cleaning ofstreets and sidewalks by tracking the cleaning devices based on conceptsdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 1-12. Thus, a central operator ofthe street RTLS system is provided with a real-time cleanliness level ofthe streets that are monitored and directs street clearing devicesaccordingly.

In some embodiments, the RTLS systems described above are used to assistvisually disabled or impaired persons. For instance, audible or Brailleoutputs work in conjunction with the RTLS systems in place of or inaddition to the graphical outputs described above. Thus, a visuallydisabled or impaired person is operable to receive the benefits of theRTLS systems (e.g., receiving cleanliness level indications of surfacesand rooms).

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a hygiene managementand monitoring system and method that can provide beneficial graphicaldisplays and interpretations of cleaning; information to better sustain,improve and audit a hygiene control system efficiently; and data formanaging and controlling cleaning. Additionally, a street monitoringmethod and system provides improved coordination of general streetcleaning and emergency snow clearing.

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A hygiene monitoring and management systemcomprising: a locating module configured to repeatedly determine that acleaning product is in an area and to repeatedly determine one or morelocations of the cleaning product in the area; a monitoring module incommunication with the locating module and configured to track movementof the cleaning product within the area based on the repeateddeterminations by the locating module of the one or more locations ofthe cleaning product in the area, the monitoring module furtherconfigured to determine a period of time that the cleaning product is inthe area based on the repeated determinations by the locating modulethat the cleaning product is in the area; and an overlay module incommunication with the locating module and configured to plot the one ormore locations of the cleaning product on a map of the area.
 11. Thehygiene monitoring and management system of claim 10, wherein thecleaning product includes a first cleaning product, wherein the hygienemonitoring and management system further includes a second cleaningproduct that is complementary to the first cleaning product, wherein thelocating module is further configured to repeatedly determine one ormore locations of the second cleaning product in the area, and whereinthe monitoring module is further configured to determine a period oftime that the second cleaning product is in the area based on therepeated determinations by the locating module that the cleaning productis in the area.
 12. The hygiene monitoring and management system ofclaim 11, wherein the movement tracked by the monitoring module includesmovement of the second cleaning product relative to an object in thearea, wherein the monitoring module is configured to determine a periodof time that the second cleaning product is on the object, and whereinthe monitoring module is further configured to determine a cleanlinesslevel of the object at least partially based on i) the repeateddeterminations of the one or more locations of each of the firstcleaning product and the second cleaning product relative to the object,ii) the tracked movement of the second cleaning product relative to theobject, and ii) the period of time that the second cleaning product ison the object.
 13. The hygiene monitoring and management system of claim12, wherein the object includes a surface in the area, and wherein thefirst cleaning product defines a spray device and the second cleaningproduct defines a wipe device.
 14. The hygiene monitoring and managementsystem of claim 10, further comprising a display in communication withthe monitoring module, wherein the monitoring module is configured toillustrate on the display a first graphical representation illustratingthe map and a second graphical representation illustrating the trackedmovement of the cleaning product in the area over the period of time.15. The hygiene monitoring and management system of claim 14, whereinthe second graphical representation overlays the first graphicalrepresentation to indicate the movement of the cleaning product relativeto at least a portion of the area.
 16. The hygiene monitoring andmanagement system of claim 14, wherein the display is configured todisplay a third graphical representation illustrating a cleanlinesslevel of an object in the area based on the tracked movement of thecleaning product relative to the object over the period of time.
 17. Thehygiene monitoring and management system of claim 16, wherein the thirdgraphical representation includes different colors based at least inpart on the cleanliness level.
 18. The hygiene monitoring and managementsystem of claim 10, wherein the cleaning product includes a mobilecleaning station.
 19. The hygiene monitoring and management system ofclaim 10, wherein the monitoring module includes an engine configured todetermine a distance over the period of time covered by the cleaningproduct relative to at least a portion of the area based on the repeateddeterminations by the locating module.
 20. The hygiene monitoring andmanagement system of claim 19, wherein the locating module is incommunication with at least two access points to repeatedly determinethe one or more locations of the cleaning product based at least in parton the strength of signals transmitted between the cleaning product andthe at least two access points.
 21. The hygiene monitoring andmanagement system of claim 10, wherein the monitoring module isconfigured to alert a user of an object in the area in need of cleaningat least partially based on the repeated determinations of the one ormore locations of the cleaning product in the area and the trackedmovement of the cleaning product within the area,
 22. The hygienemonitoring and management system of claim 21, wherein the alert isfurther based on the period of time that the cleaning product is in thearea.
 23. A hygiene monitoring and management system comprising: amanagement module including an input and configured to receive data viathe input, the received data including one or more locations of acleaning product in an area, the management module further including oneor both of software and hardware configured to generate datarepresentative of cleaning behavior associated with the cleaning productbased on the received data, wherein the cleaning behavior includestiming and movement of the cleaning product relative to an object in thearea, and a cleanliness level of the object based on the timing andmovement of the cleaning product relative to the object.
 24. The hygienemonitoring and management system of claim 23, wherein the cleaningproduct includes a first cleaning product and a second cleaning productthat is complementary to the first cleaning product, and wherein thecleaning behavior further includes a determination of an overlap of theone or more locations of the first cleaning product and the one or morelocations of the second cleaning product, and wherein the overlapdetermination is indicative of the cleanliness level.
 25. The hygienemonitoring and management system of claim 23, wherein the cleaningbehavior further includes a determination that the object is in need ofcleaning based on the cleanliness level, and implementation of acleaning operation based on the determination that the object is in needof cleaning.
 26. The hygiene monitoring and management system of claim25, wherein the cleaning operation includes an identification of a typeof cleaning agent to be used in the area.
 27. A hygiene monitoring andmanagement system comprising: a cleaning product or a cleaning deviceincluding one or more trackable tags; a locating module configured todetermine a location of the one or more trackable tags based on i) alogged history of the one or more locations or ii) tag locationcoordinates from the one or more trackable tags; a monitoring module incommunication with the locating module and configured to track movementof the one or more trackable tags in an area based on repeateddeterminations of the location of the one or more trackable tags by thelocating module, the monitoring module further configured to determine aperiod of time that the one or more trackable tags is located in a firstlocation in the area based on the location determination and the trackedmovement; and a display in communication with the monitoring module andconfigured to display the first location as a graphical representation,wherein the graphical representation includes a cleanliness level of thefirst location based on the period of time that the cleaning device isin the first location.
 28. The hygiene monitoring and management systemof claim 27, wherein the location of the one or more trackable tags isfurther based on tag identifying information.
 29. The hygiene monitoringand management system of claim 27, wherein the location of the one ormore trackable tags is based on a location signal broadcast by the oneor more trackable tags, wherein the one or more trackable tags includesone or both of a passive mode and an active mode, wherein in the passivemode the one or more trackable tags only broadcasts the location signalafter receipt of a wake-up signal, and wherein in the active mode theone or more trackable tags automatically broadcasts the location signalat predetermined time intervals.